This is a sequel to Frozen Sapphire. It takes place almost two years after the ending of Frozen Sapphire. Ethan never found Sapphire, sadly. But just read.
Undead attacked one another, tearing off limbs that went unfelt and only mourned because they needed the limbs to cause more damage to others. Plaguehounds bit other plaguehounds, ghouls clawed other ghouls, Abominations hooked other abominations. It was untter carnage. Large bats flew over head, adding to the confusion.
A necropolis floated above all of the fighting. It looked utterly ruined, large gaping holes in it, and floated tilted to one side. Workers of the undead variety could be seen trying to do repairs on it. A deathknight looked out of one of the holes in the necropolis. He watched the fighting calculatingly.
A female necromancer joined him. "How does it go, Lethumo?"
The night elf scowled, but the necromancer could tell he was happy.
"Wonderfully. That false Lich King is losing his power every day. Spies tell us that something has been feeding of the power of the Helm, leaving Fordragon weak. A little parasite that no one can find. Some have tried to track it down, but it is difficult. The parasite does not want to be found."
"Is...Is it a person?"
"Most likely, some poor idiot that has no idea what's happened to them. But as long as we get more soldiers, I don't care if it is a butterfly. Where is Lord Kel'thuzad?"
"Overseeing repairs." The woman said.
Lethumo nodded, and the necromancer left.
It had been two years since the Lich King had been killed. Bolvar Fordragon, a burnt husk, had taken the Helm, and become the new Lich King. People were relatively at peace. Trade had increased, the populations were almost back to what they were as young replaced the lives lost in the war of the Lich King. There were small earthquakes reported, and shaman learned that some elementals were becoming restless. No one looked to the north much nowadays, but there were a few settlements established. People lived here, up in the frozen land of Northrend. Not for long, though.
The night elf looked back down at the fighting. They were winning.
Jaina Proudmoore heard a door slam, and frowned. She closed the book she was reading, and stood up. She was in Stormwind, taking up residence in the Keep. Theramore had been doing well, so she had decided to visit Varian, and see if he needed help.
The mage left her room, and went to the one across the hall. She knocked on the door.
"Come in," A voice said gruffly. Jaina entered.
Ethan was collapsed on a sofa, looking dejected. He had been living with her for a while, and when they came to Stormwind, Ethan had decided to tried to get the Calwood estate back. Obviously, he was having trouble.
"It did not go well?" She asked.
The boy nodded. "The bankers refused to give me my family's estate, because I have no proof of ownership. I went to go see it. It is in utter ruins. My family's graves..."
He sighed. Jaina put one hand on his shoulder.
"Do you not have any living relatives left to help?"
"No. Most of my distant relatives are in with the Syndicates now."
Jaina nodded, "I'm sorry. You know, I am quite all right with you staying with me. You have been very helpful."
The boy looked up at the mage. "I have to move on. You remind me too much of..."
He trailed off, seeing the hurt in Jaina's eyes, and feeling the hurt inside of himself. He had spent weeks looking for her, never stopping. He had finally took a break, and went to Valiane keep. He heard rumors of a strange girl on a skeletal horse. Some said the horse could fly. Some had heard the girl would go to an inn or a group of adventurers camped out in the wilderness. She would ask to share the fire or spend the night. Some said that if you did not treat her kindly, she would slit your throat. Ethan had asked what she looked like, and got a whole range of ideas. Nothing matched except a lot of the gossipers said that the girl was as pale as death, and had bright blue eyes.
Ethan had returned to Jaina empty-handed. She did not yell at him or tell him to go away. She had offered a room in her tower at Theramore, and he had accepted wearily.
They had been together ever since, both broken hearted. Jaina found out that Ethan was rather well-educated, and he helped her with the politics and duties of taking care of Theramore. But on occasion, the boy would leave for Dustwallow Marsh, and spend days out there with his plaguehound, Ni'kua. The mournful howls of the dog could be heard anywhere in the marsh. Jaina never asked Ethan what he did out there. He always returned.
Jaina told him she would try to talk with the bankers about releasing the deed to his old home, and he thanked her. Then, he asked to be left alone. The woman left him.
Deadwind Pass. An accurate name.
Trees stood along the dusty roads, without leaves or any sign of life. The air was foul, blowing sluggishly through the ridges of the mountains. Vultures flew overhead, gliding the foul winds. Everything was gray, and lifeless. Three Giant spiders waited on a ledge, waiting for any kind of prey to come along.
The sound of a hoof hitting a rock reverberated in the stale air. The arachnids perked up, eager for food. A single horse walked down the ruined cobbled road. It was long dead, a skeletal horse with batlike wings. It had a rider, one dressed in all black and hood covering the person's face. The spiders did not feel like eating an already dead horse, but they could smell the still living flesh of the rider.
They hid on a rock that over hanged the path. A vulture flew low, and landed on the shoulder of the rider. It was large, with a wingspan of atleast six feet. It lowered its bald, black head, and nibbled on the person's hood. The rider looked up, directly where the giant spiders were hiding.
Fear, like nothing they had experience before, came over the spiders. They scuttled away frantically, each trying to flee ahead of the others.
Sapphire watched the spiders panicking. She then looked to the horse.
"Come on, Invincible. Let's go home."
Now, It was not her permanent home, but it was better than nothing. Her last home had been a wet, miserable ruin of a house in the Swamp of Sorrows. Her newest home was much drier.
The horse snorted, and quickened his pace. Not too fast, for the noise would attract attention, and Sapphire was tired. She did not feel like dealing with ogres, or the humans that called Deadwind pass home.
